Brunswick County to remain in Myrtle Beach metro area

Published: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 5:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 5:32 p.m.

Appeals from local officials failed to persuade federal agencies that Brunswick County is tied more closely to Wilmington than to Myrtle Beach.

The federal Office of Management and Budget found no reason that Brunswick should be moved back to the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area, according to a response recently sent to U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre's office.

"The OMB and Census found no ... basis for an exception with Brunswick County," the response says. "It meets the criteria in the standards to be a central county of the Myrtle Beach, S.C. MSA"

With the two agencies deciding not to budge on their decision, some Brunswick County groups hope to reach out to Myrtle Beach officials to look at opportunities for partnerships. Nonetheless, there is still a sense that the decision is a mistake.

"It still makes no practical, economic or common sense," McIntyre said in an email. "We will continue to look at all available options to make the OMB and Census Bureau understand why this determination was improper and why Brunswick County belongs in North Carolina and not in South Carolina's region."

The decision to shuffle the metro areas came after the 2010 Census. Metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, help the Census Bureau calculate population, income and demographics for regions and are determined through a number of factors.

During the shuffle, Brunswick County was moved into the Myrtle Beach MSA, taking away the 100,000 residents who were previously included in Wilmington's metro area.

Shannon Viera, president of the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce in Shallotte, said groups are looking to hold joint meetings with Myrtle Beach representatives to see how partnerships can be formed.

"(They're) looking to reach out, introduce themselves, and see if there are any resources we can share," she said.

Despite the outreach, the Brunswick County Economic Development Commission won't change how it does business, said Director Jim Bradshaw. The commission's main concern is that the data will deter manufacturing site consultants from looking to locate in the area.

Myrtle Beach is not as geared toward industry as Wilmington, Bradshaw has said.

"We will still market ourselves as the Wilmington area," Bradshaw said. "We will continue to promote ourselves that way."

<p>Appeals from local officials failed to persuade federal agencies that Brunswick County is tied more closely to Wilmington than to Myrtle Beach.</p><p>The federal Office of Management and Budget found no reason that Brunswick should be moved back to the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area, according to a response recently sent to U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre's office.</p><p>"The OMB and <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic30"><b>Census</b></a> found no ... basis for an exception with Brunswick County," the response says. "It meets the criteria in the standards to be a central county of the Myrtle Beach, S.C. MSA"</p><p>With the two agencies deciding not to budge on their decision, some Brunswick County groups hope to reach out to Myrtle Beach officials to look at opportunities for partnerships. Nonetheless, there is still a sense that the decision is a mistake.</p><p>"It still makes no practical, economic or common sense," McIntyre said in an email. "We will continue to look at all available options to make the OMB and Census Bureau understand why this determination was improper and why Brunswick County belongs in North Carolina and not in South Carolina's region."</p><p>The decision to shuffle the metro areas came after the 2010 Census. Metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, help the Census Bureau calculate population, income and demographics for regions and are determined through a number of factors.</p><p>During the shuffle, Brunswick County was moved into the Myrtle Beach MSA, taking away the 100,000 residents who were previously included in Wilmington's metro area.</p><p>Shannon Viera, president of the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce in Shallotte, said groups are looking to hold joint meetings with Myrtle Beach representatives to see how partnerships can be formed. </p><p>"(They're) looking to reach out, introduce themselves, and see if there are any resources we can share," she said.</p><p>Despite the outreach, the Brunswick County Economic Development Commission won't change how it does business, said Director Jim Bradshaw. The commission's main concern is that the data will deter manufacturing site consultants from looking to locate in the area.</p><p>Myrtle Beach is not as geared toward industry as Wilmington, Bradshaw has said.</p><p>"We will still market ourselves as the Wilmington area," Bradshaw said. "We will continue to promote ourselves that way."</p><p><i></p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9907"><b>Jason Gonzales</b></a>:343-2075</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNews_Jason</i></p>